The federal government controls the manufacture and
distribution of homeopathic medicines through legislation and
regulations under the authority of the Natural
Health Products Directorate (NHPD). As a recognized stakeholder,
the Canadian Society of Homeopaths has participated in numerous
consultations pertaining to government legislation and NHPD
regulations. We remain vigilant in protecting
the availability of homeopathic medicines for
consumers and professionals alike.

CSH representatives will also intercede on behalf of our members when
difficulties arise with importation of homeopathic medicines for
professional purposes. MORE

Health Canada releases a 220-page report intended to provide the
“most current national information available on the health status of
Canadians and the performance of our health care system … in order to
follow trends and progress toward improving the health of Canadians.”
Notably missing from the report are all Complementary and
Alternative Medicine (CAM) modalities -- including homeopathy -- which
play an increasingly important role in the health care of many Canadians.

The report includes a
short survey for assessing current indicators and suggesting additional
ones. If you wish to help the government improve the quality and scope of
future reports, CLICK HERE.

December 30, 2009:Bill C-6 Dies - For Now

The Governor General grants request by the federal government to
prorogue (suspend) Parliament until March 3, 2010, which ends the
progress of Bill C-6. An e-mail from the government confirms that
it will reintroduce, in original form, the consumer safety bill (C-6)
that the Tories claim was "gutted" by amendments approved in
the Senate.

January 29, 2009:
Bill
C-6

The federal Minister of Health introduces Bill
C-6, "an
Act respecting the safety of consumer products", which
contains similar language to former Bills C-51 and C-52. This new
legislation specifically excludes natural health products and, as a
result, the CSH Political Action committee will take no direct action at
this time, although we will continue to closely monitor the bill's
progress. To read more about the implications of C-6 regarding
personal liberties issues, see Natural
Health Products Protection Association.

December 4, 2008:
Bill C-51 Dies

Controversial Bill C-51 and other
pending legislation are suspended as the government prorogues
Parliament.

June 11, 2008:
Health Canada Stakeholders' Meeting

CSH representatives attended a packed meeting with representatives of
other natural health organizations and businesses to express concerns
about Bill C-51 directly to leaders of Health Canada.

June 6, 2008:
View Magazine (Hamilton, ON): Ottawa's
Bitter Pill

An interview with CSH President, Jo Twiss, is featured in this article
that summarizes wide-spread opposition to the C-51 legislation.

June 2, 2008:
CSH Members Attend Public Forum on Bill C-51

CSH members listened to and spoke with constitutional expert,
Shawn Buckley, to learn more about the potential effect of Bill C-51 on
the availability of Natural Health Products. Details reported in
the current issue of Georgia
Straight.

May 10, 2008:
Vancouver Protest Rally

Several CSH members in Vancouver joined the protest against the federal government's
proposed Bill C-51 legislation. The event and issues
surrounding the Bill were published in
the Vancouver
Sun.

May 8, 2008:
Introducing Bill C-51

Federal Minister of Health introduces Bill C-51 to amend the
Food and Drugs Act. Although the
Bill does not appear to have any immediate effect on homeopathic
medicines, it does contain disturbing changes that have the potential of negatively
impacting the long-term access to all natural health products,
including homeopathic products.

UPDATED JUNE 15, 2008:
The CSH Board opposes Bill C-51 and urges our members and other homeopathic supporters
to join in opposing this
legislation through a CSH-directed letter-writing campaign and an online Stop
Bill C-51 petition.

April 2, 2007:
NATURAL HEALTH PRODUCTS REGULATORY REVIEW

The Natural Health Products Directorate has
announced a Natural
Health Products Regulatory Review, a public review of its
regulations and policies to date. Entitled Charting
a Course: Refining Canada's Approach to Regulating Natural Health
Products, this Review is
accompanied by a document intended to provide sufficient background and
information to understand the context of proposed components of the
review, and is meant to support the initial stages of discussion.

Health Canada has posted an on-line
questionnaire on their website that is intended to obtain the
public's opinions on refining Canada's approach to regulating Natural
Health Products, which includes homeopathic medicines. All
homeopaths and students are encouraged to participate.

Access to the NHP questionnaire will be available only from April 1 to
May 30, 2007. Please schedule approximately one hour to
complete.

October 10, 2006:
CSH is pleased to announce that we have been informed of a
significant change by NHPD in policy interpretation pertaining to
homeopathic medicines that will positively affect the importation of
many of these medicines. MORE